The lower class (cheaper) bars are staffed by mostly immigrant men, mostly african. They are cheerful and friendly and will offer you a discount on the cover charge that will let you come in for one hour and that also includes drinks.

Inside, a beautiful girl will come up to you and start flirting outrageously. Pretty hard to resist. After just a few minutes, she’s going to demand a drink. No play = no play and you can leave. Drinks are incredibly expensive.

You can ask mama-san (or daddy-san in most cases) if the girl can come with you and they’ll say sure. Buy a 30.000 yen bottle of champagne and you’re set. You pony up the money and the girl will help you drink it up and then demand more. You thought you were taking her home, didn’t you? Oh, but after closing time the daddy-san will say and offer you to stay and spend like a maniac until then. When you turn sour, he’ll take your address and promise to send cutie over after she’s done. And she will of course never show up. Stay clear of these places. They are awful.